Oakland Community College and Goodwill of Greater Detroit team up for building trades education
A new eight week pre-apprenticeship program at Oakland Community College is working to help students jumpstart their careers in the building trades.
Oakland Community College has teamed up with Goodwill of Greater Detroit to offer a new construction pre-apprenticeship program for residents of Pontiac, Michigan. The program combines practical experience along with classroom instruction to teach students the skills they need to quickly transition from a school environment to a career in the building trades.
The eight week program will be free, and classes start on June 13. The program is open to residents of Pontiac, Michigan who are between the ages of 18 and 55. The program hopes especially to attract those involved in the justice system, and people under the age of 25.
The Vice President of Workforce Development at Goodwill of Greater Detroit, Greg Anderson, was quoted in an article posted on Oakland Community College’s website, explaining that the program, called Flip the Script, will allow for residents of Pontiac to have the opportunity to quickly and effectively change the course of their career and future. He said, “Our collaboration with OCC demonstrates Goodwill of Greater Detroit’s ongoing commitment to expanding occupational training in metro Detroit for residents with limited pathways to workforce credentials.This new pre-apprenticeship program is structured to be a proactive bridge for those who may be disconnected from the workforce. As development efforts accelerate in Pontiac, we want local residents to have the training needed to access newly created construction jobs. This partnership with OCC will have major impact on improving credential obtainment and increasing employment opportunities for Pontiac residents.”
Topics covered in the course will include basic construction safety, an introduction to basic rigging, material handling, an introduction to construction math and construction drawing, and introduction to hand tools and power tools, and will cover specialty areas such as framing, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical. Students will also be given instruction in employability skills like how to build a career in construction, and how to network with employers in the construction and building trades industries.
Sandra Bachert, who serves as Oakland Community College’s Director of Economic Workforce and Development was also quoted about the program, saying, “We have long offered a pre-apprenticeship program that prepares students to enter a registered apprenticeship program or employment in manufacturing and are excited to partner with Goodwill and expand our program to the construction industry for Pontiac residents.”
Along with Goodwill of Greater Detroit, Oakland Community College has partnered with the Emerging Industries Training Institute and the City of Pontiac for this program.
More information about the pre-apprenticeship construction program can be found by contacting Goodwill’s Cal Talley by phone at (248) 731-4138, or by email at Calvin.talley@goodwilldetroit.org.
More information about Oakland Community College can be found at the school’s website.